ABOUT JAMES MADISON: The second place Dukes will be taking on the CAA leader, Old Dominion, in one of the most highly anticipated games of the year. Its been almost one year (February 18th, 2001) in which James Madison stopped the Lady Monarchs 113 game CAA winning streak with a 49-48 victory on their homecourt. James Madison has won seven of their last eight outings with the lone set back to CAA newcomer and America East Champion, Delaware on Sunday afternoon. The Dukes fell 50-58 to the Blue Hens up in Newark, DE. Junior Shanna Price currently leads the Dukes averaging 15.5 points per game, ranking fifth in the league. Price is also leading the squad on the glass with 6.7 boards per game. However, junior forward Nadine Morgan, a Preseason All-CAA team member, leads the team in rebounding in conference play with 7.9 rebounds per CAA contest. Head coach Bud Childers is in the midst of fifth year at the helm of the James Madison program. To date he has captured an 83-55 record with the Dukes including a WNIT semi-final appearance last season.

M*A*S*H UPDATE:

HOWARD: Junior point guard Okeisha Howard will miss the next four weeks after suffering a fracture of the fibula bone in her right leg during Jan. 13th's contest with George Mason up in Fairfax, VA. Howard does not require a cast or crutches, but will be wearing a splint. She will be re-evaluated on Monday. Howard had been averaging 15.0 points per game as the Lady Monarchs leading scorer.

SPENCE: Junior guard Alli Spence has chosen to continue her medical leave of absence from the Old Dominion women's basketball team. Spence, who left the team on December 14th, has elected not to return to the school for the spring semester. Spence had been averaging 3.0 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game through the first six games of the season.

NHASSENGO: Junior college transfer Evelina "Max" Nhassengo will not suit up against the Seahawks tonight. Nhassengo injured her left knee during practice on November 15th following a collision. She underwent a MRI the next day which determined injury to her medial collateral ligament (MCL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). No timetable for Nhassengo's return has been set. Nhassengo is allowed full range of motion in her knee, but is currently using approximately 90-95 percent.

TURNER: Redshirt freshman Corrina Turner will miss the 2001-02 season after re-tearing her anterior cruciate ligament during a pick-up game just prior to pre-season.

DOUBLING AT THE FIELDHOUSE: Senior Hamchetou Maiga collected her fourth double-double of the 2001-02 season, this time on the road on Thursday evening against the UNC-Wilmington Seahawks with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Her third double-double of the year was a 14-point, 10-rebound effort in the Lady Monarchs' 74-52 victory over Drexel on Jan. 20th. Three of Maiga's four double-doubles have come at the Fieldhouse. Her other double-doubles occurred against non-conference opponents Penn State and Seton Hall.

DENIED: The Lady Monarchs captured a season-high 12 blocks against UNC-Wilmington on Thursday night, with 10 of the rejections occurring during the first half of play.
Both Kim Giddens and Hamchetou Maiga tied their career-highs with four blocks on the night. Giddens other four block effort came against Tennessee last year at the Fieldhouse while Maiga's was against former CAA rival East Carolina last season.

GIDDENS TAMES DRAGONS, SINKS SEAHHAWKS: In one of her most impressive outings of the season, junior Kim Giddens poured in 10 points and six rebounds in the Lady Monarchs' 74-52 victory over CAA newcomer Drexel on Jan. 20th and then followed with a team-high 14 points against UNC-Wilmington on Jan. 24th in a 63-39 win. Giddens was 4-of-7 from the floor and 2-of-2 from the line and was one of four Lady Monarchs in double figures in only 13 minutes on the court against the Dragons. Versus the Seahawks, Giddens scored her season-high 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field and sinking 2-of-3 from the line in just 14 minutes of action. She also tied her career high swatting away four shots on net.

GRANT GET THE NOD: Rookie Shareese Grant was inserted into the Lady Monarch line-up for the first time in her career against Hofstra on Jan. 17th due to the injury to junior Okeisha Howard. Grant finished the night nearly missing a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds.

FRANCIS GETS THE POINT: With the injury to Okeisha Howard, senior Sharron Francis will move over the point position. In her first outing in her new role against Hofstra on Jan. 17, Francis was one of five Lady Monarchs in double figures with 14 points. She also handed out five assists. Since taking over the point, Francis has averaged 9.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists.

CAA DOMINANCE: With the 63-39 victory over UNC-Wilmington on Thursday night and a 71-51 win over George Mason on Jan. 13th , the Lady Monarchs continue to keep the Patriots and Seahawks winless against Old Dominion. The Lady Monarchs hold a 27-0 all-time record against George Mason and a 24-0 all-time record against Wilmington. Old Dominion also holds unblemished records against fellow CAA schools Delaware (1-0), Hofstra (1-0), and Towson (1-0).

BLUE HEN BULLY: With an 82-55 victory over CAA newcomer Delaware on Jan. 11th, the Lady Monarchs gave the Blue Hens their first back-to-back losses since the 1999-2000 season. Old Dominion also snapped Delaware's 22 home-game winning streak, which at the time was the third largest in the country.

MORE ATTANDANCE RECORDS FALL: The Lady Monarchs set their first attendance mark at the Fieldhouse with 5,236 spectators witnessing Old Dominion's game against the top ranked Connecticut Huskies back on Dec. 29th. However, Old Dominion helped set another attendance mark, this time on the road at Delaware. 2,642 people entered the Bob Carpenter Arena on Jan. 11th, marking the largest crowd on hand for a Blue Hen women's basketball in history.

100 POINT CLUB: The Lady Monarchs produced two consecutive 100-point outings to open up 2002. The 108 points scored against Virginia Commonwealth on Jan. 4th marked the largest output by Old Dominion this season, surpassing the previous high of 105 points scored against William and Mary the game before. It was the first time they broke the century mark since the 108-67 win over Richmond in 1999-00. The last time the Lady Monarchs strung together back-to-back 100 point games was back in the 1996-97 season, the same season they reached the championship game of the NCAA Tournament. Old Dominion used a 102-46 win over George Mason to close out the 96-97 regular season and put together a 101-35 victory to open up the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Tournament. Those two games were the second back-to-back 100 point games for the Lady Monarchs in 1996-97. They also produced a 104-49 win over American and a 107-62 victory over George Mason in the middle of the season.

EVERYBODY SCORES: The Jan. 4th game against Virginia Commonwealth marked the second time this season everyone on the active Lady Monarch roster scored. The Old Dominion bench scored 64 of the 108 points (59 percent), including season and career highs for rookie Shareese Grant (22 points) and sophomore Marianthi Koukouvinou (8 points). Both Senior Sharlenia Charles (4 points) and junior Kim Giddens (8 points) tied their season highs. All Lady Monarch personnel scored against Denver on Dec. 20th as well.

DISHING IT OUT: The Lady Monarchs recorded a season-high 30 assists as a team against Virginia Commonwealth on Jan. 4th, the most since they recorded 30 as well against East Carolina on Feb. 4, 2001. Senior Hamchetou Maiga reset her career high with nine assists. Her previous high was seven, set against the Towson Tigers in the 2001-02 season opener. Junior Okeisha Howard also managed to record a new season-high in dishes with six against the Rams. Her previous high was five, recorded against both Penn State and Denver.

LADY VOLS ON THE SCHEDULE: Did you know that the Lady Volunteers have appeared on the Lady Monarchs schedule every year since the 1976-77 season? Tennessee is the biggest non-conference rivals in Old Dominion history with the two teams having faced each other 35 times over the course of the last 25 years.

LADY MONARCH RIVALRIES (No. of Games)

James Madison *: 50 LA Tech: 19

East Carolina ^: 48 Maryland: 18

VCU *: 48 Rutgers: 17

Tennessee: 35 South Alabama &: 13

William & Mary *: 34 North Carolina: 15

Richmond ^: 25 Southern Cal: 15

VA Tech: 25 South Carolina: 15

UNC-Wilmington *: 24 W. Kentucky &: 15

American ^: 23 UCLA: 12

Norfolk State: 22 Radford: 11

George Mason *: 27 South Florida: 11

Virginia: 26 Syracuse: 10

Texas: 10

* Current CAA member

^ Former CAA member

& Former Sun Belt rival

GOODNESS, GRACIOUS GRANT: Rookie Shareese Grant became just the second Lady Monarch to pour in over 20 points this season as the guard tallied 22 points in the Lady Monarchs 108-46 win over VCU on Jan 4th. Grant tied or reset nearly all her career marks including points (22), field goals (9) field goals attempted (11), free throws (3), free throws attempted (5), and steals (3). The freshman also recorded her first collegiate three pointer, just her second attempt one all season. Then on Jan. 13, Grant recorded a career-high 10 rebounds against the George Mason Patriots. Nine of her 10 boards came off the offensive glass. The rookie then followed with her first collegiate start against Hofstra on Jan. 17th due to the injury to guard Okeisha Howard.

1,000 POINT CLUB: Senior Lucienne Berthieu became the 20th Lady Monarch to reach 1,000 career points in Old Dominion's loss to Connecticut on Dec. 29th . Berthieu reached the milestone with a lay-up at the 5:15 mark in the second half. Needing just 15 points entering the contest to reach the century club, Berthieu finished the game with 17 points. Senior Hamchetou Maiga reached the 1,000 point club in her junior year and fellow classmate Sharron Francis needs just 46 points to become the 21st Lady Monarch to join the elite club.

THANK YOU FANS: The Connecticut game on Dec. 29th brought 5,236 fans to the Fieldhouse marking the largest crowd to witness a Lady Monarch game in the building's 32 years. The crowd eclipsed the previous high by 25 fans with 5,211 in attendance at senior day against William and Mary back in 1998.

DOUBLING FRANCIS: Senior Sharron Francis started 2002 on a high note recording her first double-double of the season with a season-high 14 points and career-high 10 assists against William and Mary on New Year's Day . Her previous career-high was eight assists against three different teams through her three + years as a Lady Monarch.

HOLDING THE HUSKIES: The 14-point margin of victory tied a season-low for Connecticut on Dec. 29th . The Lady Monarchs gave the top ranked Huskies a run for their money in the 70-84 loss on Saturday. The Huskies, who had been averaging a 37.8 margin of victory entering the game, lost by just 14 points. The Huskies also allowed a 14-point victory, 86-72, against both Oklahoma and Tennessee.

DECEMBER REVIEW: Old Dominion went 3-2 in the month of December. Note that both losses came at the hands of Top 25 teams. The Lady Monarchs lost to then 24th-ranked North Carolina (85-95) to open the month of December, but rallied to win their next three consecutive games. Among the three straight victories was a thrilling 84-80 overtime victory against then 22nd ranked Penn State. Old Dominion closed the final month of 2001 with a 70-84 loss to #1 Connecticut.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH: In front of family and friends who traveled from New Mexico, sophomore Myriah Spence has her breakout performance of the year, netting a team and season-high 18 points in Old Dominion's 91-69 victory over Denver on Dec. 20th. The second year guard came off the bench to shoot 7-of-12 from the field, including 4-of-6 from downtown.

POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE: Senior Hamchetou Maiga received her undergraduate degree in Information Systems at Old Dominion's graduation ceremony held on December 16th. Maiga was granted her fourth year of eligibility after completing her degree requirements this past summer. She is currently working towards her M.B.A.

HERE'S COMES THE TOP 25: Jan. 9th's game against Tennessee marked the fifth Top 25 team and third Top 10 opponent (based on the rank at the time of play) for the Lady Monarchs this season. Earlier this year, Old Dominion faced three consecutive Top 25 foes, going 1-2 in that span. On December 6th Old Dominion defeated #21/22 Penn State for their first victory over a ranked opponent since upsetting fourth ranked Connecticut at the Fieldhouse in 1999. The last time Old Dominion faced three consecutive Top 25 opponents during the regular season was back in early 1987. The Lady Monarchs, who dropped all three matches to their ranked opponents, faced three consecutive Top 10 opponents losing to #1/3 Tennessee, 52-83, at the Hall of Fame Tournament, #10/7 Virginia on the road, 55-57, and #9/8 Maryland at the Fieldhouse (75-90).

BIG EAST, BIG FOES: The BIG EAST Conference appears more times on this year's Lady Monarch non-conference schedule that any other conference. Old Dominion will have faced Virginia Tech, Seton Hall, Connecticut, and Rutgers by the year's end. Last year, the BIG EAST conference sent five teams to the NCAA Tournament: Villanova, Virginia Tech, Rutgers, final four participant Connecticut, and national champion Notre Dame.

A POINT GUARD AT HEART: Senior Tiffany Thompson may be listed as a forward/center, but opponents better watch out for her deadly range. Thompson hit at least one shot from downtown between ODU's 74-58 setback to N.C. State back on November 26th and the narrow upset of Tennessee on Jan. 8th. Twice thus far this season she has had perfect performances from beyond the arc -- against VCU (2-of-2) and UConn (3-of-3). Thompson scored nine of her season-high 11 points against the Pirates on Dec. 14th from downtown. On the season, Thompson has shot 47 percent from behind the arc, making her the best three-point shooter on the team.

EXTRA SESSIONS: December 6th's game marked just the ninth overtime game in Lady Monarch basketball history. The win over Penn State in overtime improved Old Dominion 's record in extra sessions to 7-2. The last overtime match-up occurred last year with a tight 85-84 double overtime loss to BIG EAST member Syracuse. Just three overtime games have occurred at the Fieldhouse -- this year's Penn State game, last year's loss to Syracuse, and a 69-65 win over Purdue in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 1997. In fact, three of the nine overtime games that Lady Monarchs have played in have been in NCAA Tournament action.

THE REBOUNDS IMPROVE: At one point during the season, head coach Wendy Larry left a note in the locker room telling her team that it was the worst rebounding team she has ever coached. Well the Lady Monarchs certainly got the message as Old Dominion outrebounded Penn State 52-31 on Dec. 6th. In fact, Lucienne Berthieu grabbed a career high 19 boards against the Lady Lions, the most by a Lady Monarch in a game since fellow teammate Hamchetou Maiga grabbed 20 against Southern Methodist in the NCAA Tournament on March 20th, 2000. Old Dominion also outrebounded the Huskies 48-42 on Dec. 29th, the first and only team to do so all year against the nation's top ranked team. The Lady Monarchs followed up with a season-high 62 rebounds against the William and Mary Tribe on New Year's Day. ODU finished the game outrebounding the Tribe by 34 boards.

RETIREMENT: Redshirt freshman Shareese Grant had her jersey retired at nearby Princess Anne High School in Virginia Beach in December. Wearing #24, Grant was a Three-time All-Tidewater Player of the Year, all-district, all-region, and all-state team selection averaging 26.6 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Grant became just the second women's basketball player to have her jersey retired at Princess Anne. Fellow teammate, Okeisha Howard was the first.

MONARCH MILEAGE: The Lady Monarchs' outing to
Denver was their lone trip on an airplane during the regular season. Old Dominion will be using a bus for their remaining away games. Not to fear as the Lady Monarchs use a sleeper bus which can accommodate all student-athletes, coaches, and staff that travel with the team.

FROM THE LINE: Old Dominion's woes from the free throw line continue to get better. The Lady Monarchs entered the month of December shooting just 55 percent from the line. Against the Tar Heels on Dec. 2, Old Dominion shot a season-high 80 percent from the charity stripe, which included perfect performances by Okeisha Howard (5-of-5), Sharron Francis (2-of-2), and Kim Giddens (2-of-2). Lucienne Berthieu, who up until that point was shooting just 52 percent from the line, connected on 8-of-11. Entering Dec. 14th's game against Seton Hall, senior Hamchetou Magia was averaging just 33.3 percent from the charity stripe. In perhaps her best performance from the line this season, "Tanty" sank seven of her 11 attempts, accounting for half of her points scored that evening. Okeisha Howard also continued as the team's best free three shoots, sinking all six of her attempts versus the Pirates. Against Denver, the free throws continued to sink as the team hit 77 percent from the line. Berthieu and sophomore Monique Coker, whom both struggled at the beginning of the year from the charity stripe, hit 5-of-6 and 6-of-6 respectively. As a team, the Lady Monarchs are hitting 65 percent from the line, up ten percent from the beginning of December.

2-3 WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE: Although the Lady Monarchs began the year 2-3, you can't count this team out. Last year Old Dominion began the season 2-3 , captured their 10th straight CAA title and advanced to the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The 1993-94 version of the Lady Monarchs also began their season 2-3 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament losing to eventual national champion North Carolina. The 1986-87 team also began their season 2-3, but eventually ranked as high as #12 in the AP Poll. That same season, the Lady Monarchs received a first round bye in the NCAA Tournament, upset fourth seeded North Carolina and advanced to the Sweet 16. Don't forget that the 1992-93 squad opened the year 0-4 before compiling a 22-8 record, a CAA Championships, and a second round appearance in the NCAA, bowing out to Final Four participant, Iowa.

INTRA-STATE RIVALS: Old Dominion holds a 284-58 record against fellow Virginia schools. Head Coach Wendy Larry has compiled a 136-18 against intra-state rivals. Since becoming a varsity sport in 1969, Old Dominion has had 13 undefeated season against Virginia schools. Five schools from the state of Virginia grace this year's schedule (Virginia Tech, Virginia Commonwealth, George Mason, James Madison, and William and Mary). To date, the Lady Monarch hold a 4-1 record, with the last game being a 71-51 win over fellow CAA rival George Mason. Last season, the Lady Monarchs posted a 12-3 record against schools from the Commonwealth.

SU "SPENCE" FUL: Junior guard Alli Spence had a breakout game against Virginia Commonwealth the first time around. Spence logged her first start of the season and came away with 13 points after being held scoreless in the team's first two outings of the year. She was 5-of-10 from the field, including 3-of-7 from downtown, to end the game as the Lady Monarch's second leading scorer. Additionally she tied her career high for field goals attempted (10) and three point field goals attempted (7).

LOOK OUT FOR LU: Pre-Season CAA Player of the Year Lucienne Berthieu saw improvement with each of the Lady Monarch's first three games this season after sitting out the 2000-01 season with a torn ACL. In the season opener against Towson, Berthieu attempted just one shot and recorded three points from the charity stripe. In the following game against Virginia Tech, Berthieu was 3-of-9 from the floor and added three points from the free throw line for nine total. She also added in eight boards. Against VCU, she added in her first double-double performance of the year with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Her shooting improved as well as she hit 3-of-4 from the field and 5-of-7 from the line. Against the 24th ranked Tar Heels, she landed a new season-high with 16 points and against the #21/22 Lady Lions, Berthieu tied her season-high with 16 points and reset her career-high with 19 boards.

ODU'S SPARKPLUG: Junior guard Okeisha Howard came off the Lady Monarch bench to light it up for 20 points in 15 minutes in the win over CAA rival Virginia Commonwealth (70-51). Howard sat out the first half due, but ignited the team with fresh legs and 8-of-11 shooting from the floor. Holding just a four-point edge at halftime (29-25), Old Dominion outscored the Rams 41-26. Howard accounted for nearly 50 percent of the Lady Monarch offense in the second stanza.

FAMILY AFFAIR: Cousins Old Dominion senior guard Sharron Francis and Virginia Commonwealth senior guard Rochelle Luckett spent some quality time together right after Thanksgiving. Francis helped her Lady Monarch team to a 70-51 CAA conference win, while pre-season All-CAA team member Luckett added nine points, six rebounds, and six assists in the Rams defeat. The two relatives faced each other again on Jan. 4th. Francis scored 10 points, dished out four assists, and registered three steals while her cousin Luckett was held to just six points by the Lady Monarch defense. She did however equal her Lady Monarch cousin with four assists as well.

OPENING THE SEASON: The Lady Monarchs have compiled a 25-8 record in season openers. Under Wendy Larry, the Lady Monarchs hold an 12-3 record in season opening games. The 82 points netted by Old Dominion was the largest opening point total by the team since they started the 1999-2000 season with a 91-64 victory over Hampton Roads rival, Hampton. The largest season opening total by the Lady Monarch was against Virginia Union with a 122-62 win.

CONFERENCE OPENER: The Lady Monarchs wasted no time in starting the conference season. The opening regular season game against Towson, also marked the first game in CAA play. It marked the first time in school history that Old Dominion has opened the season with a league game. Although the Lady Monarchs opened against Virginia Commonwealth in 1991 (W, 77-67) and 1992 (L, 67-72), the Rams did not join the CAA until the 1995-96 season. The Lady Monarchs are 11-0 in CAA openers:

D-D-D-DEFENSE: The Lady Monarchs allowed Towson to net just 29 points in the season opening victory over the Tigers. It was the lowest point total by an opponent since a 83-32 victory over UNC-Wilmington (2/15) and a 78-32 win over William and Mary (2/22) last year. The Tigers netted just 10 points in the first half establishing new Lady Monarch record for fewest points scored in a half by an opponent. The previous record was 11 at James Madison on December 13, 1972.

TIGER TUMBLE: Old Dominion held the Towson Tigers to just 29 points in the 2001-02 season opener. It marked the lowest output by a Tiger team in the school's history. The previous record was 34 , recorded in a 83-34 loss to Vermont last year.

TEN FINGERS, TEN RINGS: Prior to tip-off of the 2001-02 season opener vs. Towson, the Lady Monarchs received their CAA Championship rings. The Lady Monarch have won an NCAA record 10 straight championship titles since joining the CAA during the 1991-92 season.

FAREWELL TO THE FIELDHOUSE: 11 more games (excluding CAA Tournament action) will be playing in the confines of the Fieldhouse before moving over to the new, state-of-the-art, Constant Convocation Center. Throughout the year, Old Dominion will be celebrating the three decades of Lady Monarch history and tradition on the hardwood:

Log on to www.odusports.com to find out more information on the new home of the Lady Monarchs scheduled to open in the fall of 2002. Also check out the Constant Convocation Center display in the entrance of the Fieldhouse for a glimpse of the new Lady Monarch homecourt.

GLOBAL SPECTRUM: Old Dominion University has selected the Philadelphia-based firm Global Spectrum to manage the Constant Convocation Center, which is slated to open in late fall 2002. The highly regarded company provides management for public assembly facilities across the country, most notably the First Union Center, which is home to the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers, as well as facilities at Temple University and the universities of South Carolina, Rhode Island and New Hampshire Global Spectrum will be involved with all pre-opening phases of managing the facility. This includes working and consulting on facility design, preparing marketing programs, brochures and other literature on the facility, preparing a pre-opening budget, recruiting, hiring and training a general manager and facility staff, supervising the procurement of furniture, fixtures and equipment, booking and marketing the facility, securing subcontractors, and analyzing all operational details. Global Spectrum will also establish and implement financial and accounting programs and procedures, as well as prepare the facility for its opening

WHO ARE THESE GUYS: The Old Dominion Lady
Monarchs have never faced any of the four new CAA teams on the hardwood before. Here's the dates for the first meetings in the schools history:

WE'RE PICKED NUMBER ONE: Old Dominion was the unanimous choice of the media to win the 2001-02 CAA women's basketball championship in a vote taken Wednesday at CAA basketball media day at the ESPNZone in Baltimore. ODU senior forward Lucienne Berthieu, who missed all of last season with a knee injury after earning CAA Player of the Year honors in 1999 and 2000, was selected as CAA Preseason Player of the Year for 2002. Joining her on the preseason All-CAA squad were teammates Hamchetou Maiga, the 2001 CAA Player of the Year and Okeisha Howard, James Madison junior forward Nadine Morgan and Virginia Commonwealth senior guard Rochelle Luckett.